House Appropriations Committee #
Website #
Membership; meeting schedule, details, transcripts, and videos; reports; and bills in committee available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“The Appropriations Committee meets regularly when the House is in session to consider fiscal-related matters, and it conducts budget hearings each spring to review and evaluate the governor’s executive budget proposal. In accordance with House Rules, the committee also evaluates legislative proposals for fiscal implications before deciding if a measure should be sent to the floor for full consideration…
“Role of the Committee #
- “Develop an annual General Fund Budget
- “Prepare and monitor budget- and tax-related legislation
- “Review the fiscal impact of all legislation; prepare fiscal notes
- “Examine state budget proposals, line by line
- “Review and make recommendations on key fiscal issues
- “Identify alternative sources of revenue
- “Take a comprehensive look at:
- “How to make government work harder
- “How to make government perform better through the use of performance measurement
- “How to make government perform better through the use of accountability
- “How to make government perform better through the use of evaluation” (committee website).
“The Appropriations Committee shall have full power and control over any General Appropriation Bill, supplemental appropriation bill, or non-preferred appropriation bill, including the amendment of House amendments” (House Rule 19(B), 2023-2024).
Committee Referrals #
- “Budget
- “Auditor General
- “State Treasurer
- “Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority” (Committee Designation under the Regulatory Review Act, 2023).
Subcommittees #
- Criminal Justice
- Economic Impact and Infrastructure
- Education
- Fiscal Policy
- Government and Financial Oversight
- Health and Human Services
House Finance Committee #
Website #
Membership; meeting schedule, details, transcripts, and videos; reports; and bills in committee available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Requested from committee.
Committee Referrals #
- “Department of Revenue—(Except for regulations pertaining to small games of chance.)
- “Board of Claims
- “State Tax Equalization Board
- “Board of Finance and Revenue
- “Commonwealth Financing Authority” (Committee Designation under the Regulatory Review Act, 2023).
Subcommittees #
- Tax Modernization and Reform
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee #
Website #
Membership; news; reports; and meeting schedule available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“To provide members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly timely, accurate, and unbiased information, analysis, and performance evaluation to inform their policy decisions” (committee website).
Senate Appropriations Committee #
Website #
Membership and meeting schedule, votes, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
Rule 12 (p)(1):
- “(ii) No bill which may require an expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of any political subdivision or cause a loss of revenue to the Commonwealth or any political subdivision shall be given third consideration on the Calendar until it has been referred to the Appropriations Committee and a fiscal note attached therto.
- “(iii) In obtaining the information required by these Rules, the Appropriations Committee may utilize the services of the Budget Office and any other State agency as may be necessary.” (Rules of the Senate of Pennsylvania, 2023-2024)
“The committee, upon authorization of the majority chair, shall have the authority to examine and inspect all properties, equipment, facilities, files, records and accounts of any state office, department, institution, board, committee, commission or agency or any institution or agency supported, in whole or in part, by appropriation from the state treasury and to administer oaths. The Committee on Appropriations may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal of the majority chair to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony touching matters properly being inquired into by the committee and to cause the deposition of witnesses either residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions” (General Appropriations Act of 2022).
Senate Finance Committee #
Website #
Membership and meeting schedule, votes, and video available on website.
Purpose/Jurisdiction #
“The Senate Finance Committee has the primary role of reviewing legislation affecting Pennsylvania’s tax codes, including any future tax increases or cuts. The committee has oversight of the state Department of Revenue, Pennsylvania Department of Treasury, Pennsylvania Auditor General and the state’s retirement boards” (submitted by committee, June 2023).
